Southern Co. plans to spend $14B over 3 years to keep up with growth

[jpak]

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2008/05/28/southern_0529.html

Southern Co. plans to spend $14 billion on new utility poles, wires and power plants in the next three years to keep up with the Southeast's population growth, CEO David Ratcliffe said at the company's annual meeting Wednesday.

The initiative will include converting two coal-fired power plants to produce electricity from biomass, said Ratcliffe, addressing shareholders at the Callaway Gardens resort in Pine Mountain. Biomass refers to wood chips, switchgrass and other plant matter that can be used as alternative fuels.

Southern's investment eventually will mean higher rates for customers, Ratcliffe said. The prices of steel, copper, aluminum, concrete and other commodities have risen sharply in the past year, making it more expensive for utilities to build power plants and other infrastructure.

Though he gave no estimates, he said the price increases would raise public concerns and require negotiations with regulators and others. He said the company would try to minimize the impact on ratepayers.

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[madrchsod]

1. that`s two months spending in iraq....

one years expenditures in iraq could rebuild our countries electrical grid...

[predfan]

2. just another result of our generation's shifting expenses to the next.

We've been addicted to CHEAP everything ( energy, food, water, gas) and most of us have never had to make the hard decisions about where to spend our income. Electric usage is just another action that'll be carefully considered by tomorrow's consumers. Remember clotheslines? Open windows and ceiling fans? When American consumers realize it's not going to be nearly as hard as we think to actually conserve, and change some habits, we'll all be better off.
Who of us aren't more conscious of our gasoline usage? Just being cognizant of driving habits can show up at the pump.

it's simply going to cost more to live, and we've got to rearrange our lives a little to compensate. It makes one realize what a vacuum of leadership we've suffered through the last few years.